Olkinuora sensational for Ontario, making 35 saves
Photo credit: Nate McIntyre/Idaho Steelheads
BOISE, Idaho – The Ontario Reign (9-6-0-2), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL’s 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, prevailed over the Idaho Steelheads (11-5-1-0) by a 2-1 score in front of a crowd of 4,956 on Saturday night at CenturyLink Arena.
The Reign were denied a chance to get on the board at 12:36 of the first period, when Rocco Carzo drove towards the Idaho net, but Carzo was whistled for goaltender interference on Olivier Roy; Ontario successfully managed to kill the penalty.
Throughout the opening frame, the Steelheads peppered the Reign net, but netminder Jussi Olkinuora made several great stops to hold Idaho at bay.
In the second period, an elbowing penalty to Eamonn McDermott at the 2:30 mark sent Ontario to the power-play, and the team capitalized when Matt Register passed the puck along to Geoff Walker. Walker moved the puck ahead for Tyler Spurgeon from the left circle, and after Spurgeon’s attempt was denied by Roy, Walker snuck in behind the play and buried a shot in the back of the net to give the Reign a 1-0 lead at 3:58.
Ontario’s conversion with the man advantage continued later on in the frame, after Charlie Dodero was sent to the box for hooking Everett Sheen at 16:53. The Reign made the Steelheads pay when Matt White moved the puck up along the right wall back to Ralfs Freibergs at the blueline, and the defenseman unleashed a slap shot that made its way through traffic to beat Roy at 17:42.
Idaho finally solved Olkinuora at 19:26, when Alex Belzile and Steve Quailer teamed up to steal the puck behind the Ontario net. Quailer sent a pass into the slot for Jason Bast, and the Steelheads forward blasted a shot past Olkinuora.
In the third period, Olkinuora continued to turn aside chances from Idaho, including last-ditch efforts from Dodero and Jordan Sims to close the game out in favor of the Reign.
Olkinuora picked up the victory for Ontario with 35 saves; Roy took the defeat with 20 stops.
Three Stars:
1. ONT – Jussi Olkinuora
2. IDH – Jason Bast
3. IDH – Steve Quailer
Click here to view the box score.
Reign Drops:
The Ontario Reign have brought back the popular Holiday Plan, with plans starting as low as $39.
This season’s Holiday Plan includes up to five games*, free parking, and the choice of a gift card to New York Grill, a free race at Fast Lap of Ontario or a round of free Tiki Golf at Laser Island (all gifts valued at $25).
Don’t miss out on this great gift idea and purchase your Holiday Plan packages today. *Purchase by Saturday, Dec. 6 to receive a fifth game free. Click here to purchase your plans or call 909-941-PUCK (7825) with any questions.
– ontarioreign.com –
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